Venom And Vice

30

“But it’s not the same, is it?” She’d read between the lines straight to my most pressing concern. “The spell is woven into the magic used when the Erlking is named. It can’t be replicated outside of the ceremony—not to the full extent.” I sighed heavily, knowing how crucial it would be for me to be present. I had been Lochlan’s next in command for ages. With all the challenges he would soon face, he needed our bond to be as powerful as possible. Ashley placed her hand on mine. “Caz, I know you’re worried, and I really appreciate your concern for my safety, but it sounds like you need to go,” she said softly, her eyes briefly cutting to where Durin had stood. “I know how dangerous it is, and I swear to you that I won’t leave the building while you’re gone.” If I’d thought feisty Ashley was irresistible, her compassionate counterpart could have sent a man to his grave with a smile on his face. At a loss for words, a growl of frustration escaped me. “Let’s get this shopping s**t wrapped up and get home.” One more minute alone with her, and I might have said something I’d regret. Something raw and honest and irreversible. Only a handful of Erlking induction ceremonies had ever been performed, and I’d been present at all of them. Normally, the Hunt spent an entire week gathered in celebration. We had decided to keep events to a minimum this time because of the circumstances, but that still meant almost four days of feasts, politics, and gatherings leading up to the primary ceremony. It would only amount to under forty-eight hours back on Earth since time didn’t work the same on both worlds, but it felt like an eternity. As expected, Lochlan managed to convince me to go. We added extra protections at the Huntsman building, and I waited until the last possible minute to leave, but each second I was gone scratched and clawed at my thoughts until my inner voice screamed in frustration. The only thing that gave me any peace at all was the fact that Rebecca possessed a unique power called dream walking, in which she could communicate with others telepathically. Because of her intense connection with Lochlan, she could perform the feat with him at any distance. Knowing the girls were a telepathic phone call away was the only thing that had felt like sufficient reassurance to justify leaving them. Between the increased wards, an ability to communicate, and minimal time away, our absence shouldn’t have left them excessively vulnerable. “Stop worrying.” Lochlan clapped a hand on my shoulder. “They’ll be fine.” We’d been preparing for the final ceremony all day, and we're down to the final hour. Huntsman who had been scattered across Faery had been summoned to the hunting lodge Lochlan inherited from Alberich, his adoptive father and predecessor. It was isolated in a remote forest—perfect for a secret ceremony. Everyone was now present. The components of the spell had been gathered. All that remained was the actual ceremony itself before we could get the hell back home. “I’m surprised you aren’t just as on edge.” I downed the rest of my wine. “If that Gorda makes a move for them, you know Rebecca will be just as helpless against him as Ashley.” Rebecca had significant powers, but they relied primarily on proximity, which would be useless against a Fear Gorda. Both women were equally vulnerable on that front. Lochlan sat in the armchair across from me and studied me. “It’s not my ideal situation; however, this is nothing compared to what I already had to endure watching Rebecca go up against Morgan. I had no choice but to stand at her side and have faith that she would survive.” “You had a choice. You chose to risk her life to give humans a chance at survival.” “Not at all.” His hint of a smile bore a sharp edge. “That was never one of my considerations. Earth could go to hell for all I cared, but it would have broken Rebecca. That was the choice I had to make. Give her the freedom to make her own choices or cut her wings and coat her soul with the black tar of hate and regret. For me, that was never truly an option.” And that was why Lochlan was moments away from becoming our newest Erlking. He was ruthless but fair and always logical. He had known that if he gave in to his need to protect Rebecca, he would have lost her regardless. I reached for the bottle of wine and poured myself another glass to both pass the time and help me swallow the truth I’d just been fed. Lochlan chuckled, taking a swig from his own glass. “You’re a good man, Caz. You’ll get through this just as you have every other challenge along the way.” I was quiet for a moment, touched by his confidence, but more than anything, I worried his trust was misplaced. “I’m not so sure. After Raisa…” I met his steely gaze. “I can’t go through that again. If something happens to her…” I couldn’t finish. I was too embarrassed to admit the things I would do should Ashley come to harm. “I can’t say it won’t ever happen, but if it should, I’ll be right there beside you. The blood on your hands will coat mine as well.” His tone softened to a lethal promise. “We’re brothers. You are never alone.” He might have been younger than many of us, but he was easily the best man for the job. Lochlan would lead with honor, justice, and unbridled loyalty. I dropped my chin in a traditional Fae bow of respect. Lochlan set down his glass and stood. “All right. Let’s get this show over with. I want to get home to my girl.” He patted my back as I rose. His ability to transition an awkward silence back to more comfortable waters was greatly appreciated. I followed him into the main hall, where he inquired about the status of the preparations, urging those in charge to get us started as soon as possible. A half hour later, we were all gathered in the forest some distance from the house. Over fifty Huntsmen, a blazing fire, and the night sky glittering with distant stars. The profound nature of the ceremony was immensely impactful, despite my incessant anxiety. Pride expanded my chest, and when the bond between Erlking and Huntsman was again in place, I found that a small modicum of comfort returned. It was a layer of unease I hadn’t even realized existed. Yet when the spell was performed and our oaths renewed, the tension eased from my muscles. We were again united, and I felt stronger for it.